Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Adrian Township, Michigan

Adrian Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Adrian Charter Township (Adrian township) limits; the township's own zoning ordinance governs use and dimensional rules there, not county zoning.

  • The official zoning map page links an 'Adrian township zoning ordinance (pdf)' that the township administers; the PDF itself was not opened during this research, so district rules are not confirmed here.
  • The township homepage states the planning commission is directed to review the current zoning ordinance (data centers and similar uses), so the ordinance text may change.
  • A 'zoning compliance permit' is listed on the township permits page; the zoning-map page lists 'zoning map region 2 (pdf)' as well.

  “download adrian township zoning ordinance (pdf)”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing and zoning compliance permits issued by Adrian Charter Township

  • The township lists a 'fee schedule (pdf)' download; the schedule itself was not opened, so amounts are not recorded here.

  “zoning compliance permit (pdf) download fee schedule (pdf) download sewer permit (pdf) download”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit process at Adrian Charter Township hall, 2907 Tipton Highway

  • The township publishes a building permit application and checklist and a zoning compliance permit form, but no page opened describes the review steps, timelines or inspection sequence.
  • Township hall hours are Monday-Thursday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm (closed 12:00 - 1:00 pm) and Friday 8:00 am - 1:00 pm, per the township site.

  “building permit checklist (pdf) download building permit (pdf) download zoning compliance permit (pdf) download”

Rules another office applies inside Adrian Township

Adrian Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  On-site sewage disposal systems on land inside Adrian Charter Township; the Lenawee County Health Department (LCHD) has jurisdiction.

  • LCHD jurisdiction covers systems that handle up to 10,000 gallons of wastewater per day.
  • Larger systems are handled by the state (EGLE), depending on the type and amount of wastewater.
  • The page lists homes among the systems covered.

  design wastewater flow threshold for LCHD jurisdiction: <= 10000 gallons per day (larger systems regulated by EGLE)

  “the lenawee county health department (lchd) has jurisdiction for public and private on-site sewage disposal systems in lenawee county that handle up to 10,000 gallons of wastewater per day.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New or replacement on-site sewage disposal systems on land inside Adrian Charter Township, permitted by LCHD (or EGLE for larger systems).

  • A site evaluation is required; soil permeability, seasonal high water table, available land and isolation from water supplies are determined.
  • Properties that meet the approval criteria are eligible for construction permits with payment of permit fees.
  • Permit fees are set in the LCHD environmental health fee schedule (not opened).

  “prior to installing a sewage disposal system, a construction permit must be obtained from either egle or the lchd, depending on the type and amount of wastewater generated.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  On-site sewage disposal systems on land inside Adrian Charter Township.

  • Each system must be inspected and approved by the health department before being placed into service.

  “each system is inspected and requires approval from the department before being placed into service.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Adrian Township or Lenawee County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-occupant building of a home inside Adrian Charter Township
• Building code adopted — Building construction inside Adrian Charter Township
• Inspections — Construction inside Adrian Charter Township
• Certificate of occupancy — New dwellings inside Adrian Charter Township
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts of Adrian Charter Township

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.